Power extension wire

ABSTRACT

A power extension wire includes a power plug, a socket, and a cord connected between the power plug and the socket. The power plug includes a first temperature sensor element, the socket includes at least one alternating-current jack. The cord includes a plurality of alternating-current conducting wires and at least one direct-current conducting wire. When a temperature sensed by the first temperature sensitive element is higher than a first threshold value, the first temperature sensor element transmit a first sense signal to the socket through the at least one direct-current conducting wire.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 14/876,875, filed on Oct. 7, 2015 and entitled “POWER EXTENSIONWIRE”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The instant disclosure relates to a power extension wire, in particular,to a power extension wire adapted to receive alternating-current power.

2. Description of Related Art

The type of electric devices increases by day, and since each of theelectric devices has a power plug to enable electric power conduction,the number of the sockets in the houses of the user is not enough.Therefore, it is common to use power extension wires for increasing thenumber of the sockets.

The most common power extension wire is a bar-shape socket with morethan three sets of alternating-current jacks positioned thereon. Oneside of the socket has a cord and a power plug for inserting andconnecting to the external power source. Therefore, it is able toincrease the number of the sockets for more electric devices.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment of the instant disclosure provides a powerextension wire, the power extension wire comprises a power plug, anelectric element and a cord connected between the power plug and theelectric element. The power plug has a wireless transmission module, andthe electric element has at least one current converting unit. The cordhas a plurality of alternating-current conducting wires and at least onedirect-current conducting wire. The current converting unit receives analternating-current power through the plurality of alternating-currentconducting wires, and the current converting unit supplies power to thewireless transmission module through the at least one direct-currentconducting wire. The electric element may be a socket or householdelectrical appliances such as an oven, a fan, a refrigerator, atelevision, etc.

An exemplary embodiment of the instant disclosure provides a powerextension wire, the power extension wire comprises a power plug, asocket and a cord connected between the power plug and the socket. Thepower plug has a wireless transmission module, and the socket has atleast one alternating-current jack and a current converting unit. Thecord has a plurality of alternating-current conducting wires and atleast one direct-current conducting wire. The current converting unitreceives an alternating-current power through the plurality ofalternating-current conducting wire, and the current converting unitprovides power to the wireless transmission module through the at leastone direct-current conducting wire.

The exemplary embodiment of the instant disclosure provides a powerextension wire, the power extension wire comprises a power plug, anelectric element and a cord connected between the power plug and theelectric element. The power plug has a first temperature sensor element,and the electric element comprises at least one current converting unit.The cord has a plurality of alternating-current conducting wires and atleast one transmitting wire; the transmitting wire may be adirect-current conducting wire or a signal transmitting wire. When atemperature sensed by the first temperature sensitive element is higherthan a first threshold value, the first temperature sensor elementtransmits a first sense signal to the electric element through the atleast one direct-current conducting wire.

The exemplary embodiment of the instant disclosure further provides apower extension wire, the power extension wire comprises a power plug, asocket and a cored connected between the power plug and the socket. Thepower plug has a first temperature sensor element, and the socket has analternating-current jack. The cord has a plurality ofalternating-current conducting wires and at least one direct-currentconducting wire. When a temperature sensed by the first temperaturesensitive element is higher than a first threshold value, the firsttemperature sensor element transmits a first sense signal to the socketthrough the at least one direct-current conducting wire.

In order to further understand the techniques, means and effects of theinstant disclosure, the following detailed descriptions and appendeddrawings are hereby referred, such that, through which, the purposes,features and aspects of the instant disclosure can be thoroughly andconcretely appreciated; however, the appended drawings are merelyprovided for reference and illustration, without any intention to beused for limiting the instant disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the instant disclosure, and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrateexemplary embodiments of the instant disclosure and, together with thedescription, serve to explain the principles of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 1A is an external schematic view of a power extension wire of afirst embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a schematic view of the circuit of the power extension wireof the first embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 1C is a sectional view of a cord of the power extension wire of thefirst embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a cord of the power extension wire of asecond embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 3A is an external schematic view of a power extension wire of athird embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a schematic view of a circuit of the power extension wire ofthe third embodiment of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 3C is sectional view of a cord of the power extension wire of thethird embodiment of the instant disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of theinstant disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers areused in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or likeparts.

The major feature of the instant disclosure resides in that the sockethas a wireless transmission module or a temperature sensor element, andis connected with the electric element behind through the cord. Theelectric element may be a socket or household electrical appliances suchas an oven, a fan, a refrigerator, a television, etc. However, theinstant disclosure is not limited thereto.

First Embodiment

Please refer to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C. In the present embodiment, theelectric element is a socket. However, the instant disclosure is notlimited thereto. FIG. 1A is an external schematic view of the powerextension wire of a first embodiment of the instant disclosure. FIG. 1Bis a schematic view of the circuit of the power extension wire of thefirst embodiment of the instant disclosure. FIG. 1C is a sectional viewof the cord of the power extension wire of the first embodiment of theinstant disclosure. The embodiment of the instant disclosure provides apower extension wire Z1 adapted to receive alternating-current power,the power extension wire Z1 comprises a power plug 1, a socket 2 and acord 3 connected between the power plug 1 and the socket 2, wherein thepower plug 1 has a wireless transmission module 11 positioned therein,and the socket 2 has a current converting unit 22 positioned therein.Furthermore, the cord 3 has a plurality of alternating-currentconducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G, and at least one direct-currentconducting wire 32. The power converting unit 22 receivesalternating-current power through the alternating-current conductingwires 31L, 31N, 31G, and provides electric power to the wirelesstransmission module 11 in the power plug 1 through the direct-currentconducting wire 32. Therefore, the power extension wire Z1 may receiveand transmit data through the wireless transmission module 11.

As shown in the figure, the power plug 1 is connected to one end of thecord 3, and has at least two power pins 13L, 13N, 13G. For instance, inthe embodiment shown in the figures, the number of the power pins 13L,13N, 13G is three, and are positive fire pin, neutral pin and ground pinrespectively. These power pins 13L, 13N, 13G may be used for removablyinserting and connecting to an external socket which suppliesalternating-current, such as a wall type socket (not shown) forreceiving alternating-current. In other embodiments that are not shownin figures, the power plug may be a China standard power plug with twoflat pins, or a U.S.A or Australia standard power plug with two flatpins, and these power pins may be design according to the standards ineach area of the world.

The power plug 1 has a wireless transmission module 11 positionedtherein. For instance, the wireless transmission module 11 may comprisesan antenna 111, and the data received or transmitted by the wirelesstransmission module 11 is transferred between the wireless transmissionmodule 11 and an external signal source outside of the power extensionwire Z1 in the form of wireless electric wave. In another embodiment,the data received or transmitted by the wireless transmission module 11may be transferred in a small range in a wireless PAN. For example, thewireless transmission module 11 may comprise a Bluetooth emittingdevice, and the data received or transmitted by the wirelesstransmission module 11 is transferred in the form of Bluetooth wirelesssignal.

As shown in the figure, the socket 2 is attached to the other end of thecord 3 and has a current converting unit 22 and at least one set ofalternating-current jack 21. Each set of the alternating-current jack 21comprises at least two alternating-current jacks 21, and each set of thealternating-current jack 21 corresponds to the power supplying terminals26 in the socket 2. Taking the embodiment shown in the figures as anexample, each set of the alternating-current jack 21 has threealternating-current jacks 21. The power supplying terminals 26 mayelectrically connected to three power input wires (not shown) in thesocket 2, and electrically connected to the power plug 1 through thealternating-current conducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G in the cord 3 forreceiving alternating-current. Each set of the alternating-current jacks21 is used as an interface for transferring electrical power. To bespecific, when supplying electrical power to the alternating-currentjacks 21, the power plug external to the power extension wire Z1 (suchas the power plug of the electric appliance) may be inserted to thealternating-current jacks 21 to access alternating-current.

The current converting unit 22 is used for convertingalternating-current into direct-current. It is worthwhile to mentionthat the current converting unit 22 receives electrical power throughthe alternating-current conducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G in the cord 3,and the current converting unit 22 supplies electrical power to thewireless transmission module 11 of the power plug 1 through thedirect-current conducting wire 32 in the cord 3. Furthermore, taking thepresent embodiment as an example, the socket 2 further comprises a dataprocessing unit 23 positioned therein, the data processing unit 23 mayreceive and transmit data through the wireless transmission module 11 ofthe power plug 11. To be specific, the data received and transmitted bythe wireless transmission module 11 is transferring between the wirelesstransmission module 11 of the power plug 1 and the data processing unit23 of the socket 2 through the direct-current conducting wire 32 in thecord 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, cord 3 comprises three alternating-currentconducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G that are fire line, neutral line andground line respectively, and the cord 3 further comprises twodirect-current conducting wires 32. The alternating-current conductingwires 31L, 31N, 31G in the cord 3 electrically connected to one of thepower pins 13L, 13N, 13G and the two power supplying terminals 26.Besides, the alternating-current conducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G furtherelectrically connect to the current converting unit 22 in the socket 2to supply electric power to the current converting unit 22.

The direct-current conducting wires 32 in the cord 3 connect to thewireless transmission module 11 in the power plug 1 and the currentconverting unit 22 in the socket 2. The wireless transmission unit 11receives the direct-current supplied by the current converting unit 22.Furthermore, the direct-current conducting wire 32 electricallyconnected to the wireless transmission module 11 in the power plug 1 andthe current converting unit 22 in the socket 2 respectively to producethe transferring path of data in the power extension wire Z1.

Each of the alternating-current conducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G and eachof the direct-current conducting wires 32 are insulated by anon-conductive coating to prevent the alternating-current conductingwires 31L, 31N, 31G and the direct-current conducting wires 32 contactwith the adjacent alternating-current conducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G andthe direct-current conducting wires 32, thereby avoiding the generationof a short circuit. Furthermore, the alternating-current conductingwires 31L, 31N, 31G and the direct-current conducting wires 32 may becoated by the same insulation layer, thereby forming the cord 3. It isnoted that as shown in FIG. 1C, the direct-current conducting wires 32is positioned in the gaps between the alternating-current conductingwires 31L, 31N, 31G and the wire diameter of the direct-currentconducting wires 32 is smaller than each of the wire diameter of thealternating-current conducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G. Therefore, the spacefor arranging the direct-current conducting wires 32 is reduced by usingthe gaps between the alternating-current conducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G.Accordingly, the size (sectional area) of the cord formed thereby may bereduced.

In general, the external socket supplying alternating-current (such as awall-type socket) may be disposed on the wall of a room, and has aheight relative to the ground. Therefore, when using the power extensionwire Z1, the power plug 1 inserted into the wall-type socket has aheight relative to the ground. In other words, the wireless transmissionmodule 11 of the power plug 1 may has a height relative to the groundand thereby preventing the transmission of the wireless signal beingaffect by the furniture or electric appliances in the room and ensuringthe quality of the receiving and transmittance of the data. Besides, theuser may disposed the socket 2 of the power extension wire Z1 accordingto the actual needs, for example, the user may place the socket 2 on theground without considering that the arrangement of the socket wouldaffect the signal of the wireless transmission module 11.

Besides, the current converting unit 22 is positioned on the socket 2,and the wireless transmission module 11 may receive the direct-currentsupplied by the current converting unit 22 through the direct-currentconducting wires 32 in the cord 3. The data processing unit 23 ispositioned on the socket 2 as well, and the wireless transmission module11 may receive the data transmitted by the data processing unit 23through the direct-current conducting wires 32 in the cord 3 or transmitdata to the data processing unit 23. Therefore, the size of the powerplug 1 only has to accommodate with the size of the wirelesstransmission module 11. Accordingly, the size of the power plug 1 may bereduced. Moreover, by positioned both of the current converting unit 22and the data processing unit 23 on the socket 2, it is able to avoid thereceiving and transmittance of the signal of the wireless transmissionmodule 11 interfere by other electronic elements. According to differentdesign needs, the designer may achieve good receiving and transmittanceefficiency by adjusting the position of the antenna 111 on the powerplug 1.

Second Embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cord of thepower extension wire of a second embodiment of the instant disclosure.In this embodiment, the electric element is a socket; however, theinstant disclosure is not limited thereto. This embodiment is similar tothe previous embodiment, the difference between the present embodimentand the first embodiment will be discussed in detail below.

In the present embodiment, the cord connected between the power plug andthe electric element (i.e., the socket) has at least one transmittingwire which may be a direct-current conducting wire or a signaltransmitting wire. In the following description, the transmitting wireis a direct-current conducting wire 32. The wire diameter of thedirect-current conducting wire 32 is smaller than each of the wirediameter of the alternating-current conducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G.Besides, the alternating-current conducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G arearranged as a bundle of conducting wire 31. Therefore, the arrangementof the alternating-current conducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G may save somespaces. Besides, the axle center of the direct-current conducting wire32 is arranged inside of the outer diameter of the bundle of conductingwire 31. Therefore, the arrangement of the direct-current conductingwire 32 may sufficiently use the gaps between the alternating-currentconducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G thereby saving spaces.

Third Embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C. FIG. 3A is an externalschematic view of the power extension wire of a third embodiment of theinstant disclosure. FIG. 3B is a schematic view of the circuit of thepower extension wire of the third embodiment of the instant disclosure.FIG. 3C is sectional view of the cord of the power extension wire of thethird embodiment of the instant disclosure. The present embodiment issimilar to the first embodiment, the difference between the presentembodiment and the first embodiment will be discussed in detail below.The present embodiment provides a power extension wire Z3 for receivingalternating-current, the power extension wire Z3 comprises a power plug1′, a socket 2′ and a cord 3′ connected between the power plug 1′ andthe socket 2′, wherein the power plug 1′ has a first temperature sensorelement 12. Furthermore, the cord 3′ has a plurality ofalternating-current conducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G and at least onedirect-current wire 32. When the temperature sensed by the firsttemperature sensor element 12 is higher than a first threshold value,the first temperature sensor element 12 transmits a first sense signalto the socket 2′ through the direct-current conducting wire 32.Therefore, the socket 2′ may cut-off or display a warning signalaccording to the first sense signal, thereby preventing the power plug1′ of the power extension wire Z3 from damaging or inducing accidentsdue to overheat.

As shown in the figure, the first temperature sensor element 12 may bepositioned inside of the power plug 1′. The first temperature sensorelement 12 may have a temperature sensor pin (not shown) for sensing thetemperature of the power plug 1′. The temperature sensor element 12 mayhave a temperature signal processing circuit (not shown). When thetemperature sensed by the first temperature sensor element 12 is higherthan the first threshold value, the first temperature sensor element 12produces a first sense signal through the signal processing circuit, andtransmits the first sensor signal to the socket 2′ through thedirect-current conducting wire 32 in the cord 3′, thereby inducing thesocket 2′ to cut-off or display a warning signal according to the firstsense signal. When the temperature sensed by the first temperaturesensor element 12 is lower than the first threshold value, the firsttemperature sensor element 12 may transmit another sense signal to thesocket 2′ through the direct-current conducting wire 32 in the cord 3′,thereby inducing the socket 2′ to supply electrical power.

Taking a modified embodiment shown in the figure as an example, the cord3′ may has a second temperature sensor element 33 for sensing thetemperature of the cord 3′. For example, the second temperature sensorelement 33 may have a temperature sensing wire 331 for sensing thetemperature of the cord 3′. As shown in FIG. 3C, the temperature sensingwire 331 is positioned in the gaps between the alternating-currentconducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G for sensing the temperature of the cord3′. In addition, the wire diameter of the temperature sensing wire 331may be smaller than the wire diameter of each of the alternating-currentconducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G. Therefore, the arrangement of thetemperature sensing wire 331 may utilize the gaps between thealternating-current conducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G thereby savingspaces. Accordingly, the size (sectional area) of the cord 3′ may bereduced.

When the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor element 33is larger than a second threshold value, the second temperature sensorelement 33 transmits a second sense signal to the socket 2′ through thedirect-current conducting wire 32 in the cord 3′, thereby inducing thesocket 2′ to cut-off or display a warning signal according to the secondsense signal. When the temperature sensed by the second temperaturesensor element 33 is lower than the second threshold value, the secondtemperature sensor element 33 may transmit another sense signal to thesocket 2′ through the direct-current conducting wire 32 in the cord 3′,thereby inducing the socket 2′ to supply electrical power.

In addition, the socket 2′ has a control circuit 24 and a plurality ofpower supplying switches 25 therein. The control circuit 24 detects thetemperature of the power plug 1′ and the temperature of the cord 3′through the first temperature sensor element 12 and the secondtemperature sensor element 33, and the control circuit 24 induces thesocket 2′ to cut-off or display a warning signal according to the firstsense signal and the second sense signal, thereby preventing the powerplug 1′ or the cord 3′ overheat or melt and generating short circuit orfire. To be specific, the power supplying switches 25 are coupled to thecontrol circuit 24 and electrically connected to the alternating-currentconducting wires 31L, 31N, 31G and corresponding power supplyingterminals 26 separately. The control circuit 24 controls the powersupplying switches 25 to be on or off according to the first sensesignal and the second sense signal transmitted by the direct-currentconducting wires 32, in order to control the power supply of thealternating-current jacks 21.

In summary, in the power extension wire Z3 of the above embodiments, thecontrol circuit 24 is positioned on the socket 2′, and the controlcircuit 24 may receive the sense signals transmitted by the firsttemperature sensor element 12 and the second temperature sensor element33 through the direct-current conducting wire 32 of the cord 3′.Therefore, the size of the power plug 1′ only have to accommodate withthe size of the first temperature sensor element 12, thereby reducingthe size of the power plug 1′. Moreover, the power extension wire Z3 ofthe above embodiment may form two independent temperature-sensingcut-off mechanisms by the first temperature sensor element 12 positionedin the power plug 1′ and the second temperature sensor element 33positioned in the cord 3′, thereby effectively increasing the safety ofthe power extension wire Z3.

The above-mentioned descriptions represent merely the exemplaryembodiment of the instant disclosure, without any intention to limit thescope of the instant disclosure thereto. Various equivalent changes,alternations or modifications based on the claims of instant disclosureare all consequently viewed as being embraced by the scope of theinstant disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power extension wire, comprising: a power plug,the power plug has a first temperature sensor element; a socket, thesocket has at least one alternating-current jack; and a cord connectedbetween the power plug and the socket, the cord has a plurality ofalternating-current conducting wires and at least one direct-currentconducting wire; wherein when a temperature sensed by the firsttemperature sensitive element is higher than a first threshold value,the first temperature sensor element transmit a first sense signal tothe socket through the at least one direct-current conducting wire. 2.The power extension wire according to claim 1, wherein the socketcuts-off or displays a warning signal according to the first sensesignal.
 3. The power extension wire according to claim 2, wherein thecord has a second temperature sensor element for sensing a temperatureof the cord, when the temperature is higher than a second thresholdvalue, the second temperature sensor element transmits a second sensesignal to the socket, and the socket cuts-off or displays the warningsignal according to the second sense signal.
 4. The power extension wireaccording to claim 3, wherein the socket has a control circuitpositioned therein, the control circuit detects temperatures of thesocket and the cord through the first temperature sensor element and thesecond temperature sensor element, and the control circuit induces thesocket to cut-off or display the warning signal.
 5. The power extensionwire according to claim 4, wherein the socket has at least one powersupplying switch coupled to the control circuit for controlling whetheror not the alternating-current socket supplying power.